Adjustable support



June 1948. s. N. BUGHANAN El AL 2,442,340

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 16, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Step/zerz MBucizanan YSam, l' yibsorz ATTO EY June 1948. s. N. BUCHANAN El AL 2,442,340

ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT Filed Sept. 16, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO S Siepizen M Bac aria n ;;q all 9655012 Patented June 1, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT Stephen N. Buchanan, Westmoreland Hills, Md., and Samuel L. Gibson, Bryson City, N. 0.; said Buchanan assignor to Buchanan Electrical Products Corporation, Elizabeth, N. (L, a corporation of New Jersey Application September 16, 1946, Serial No. 697,346

, Claims. 1

This invention relates to adjustable supports for outlet boxes and similar articles.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device having a number of advantages and improvements in relation to the structure shown in U. S. Patent 2,178,168, October 31, 1939, to Samuel Leonard Gibson, one of the joint applicants herein. The present invention not only has a high degree of adjustability but also combines said adjustability with structural features which make the device economical to manufacture and simple and positive in its use. Those familiar with the art will appreciate the desirability of an article of the character described which provides a maximum of simplicity in structure and installation and at the same time makes it possible to provide an adjustabili-ty which meets practically any need whether that need be in connection with new construction work or in buildings already constructed. By means of the present invention it is possible to mount an outlet box or similar article in any desired spaced relation to an ultimate support as, for example, the uprights or joists or baseboards or ceiling rafters so that the outlet box or similar article will bear its proper alignment or relation to the plaster or other finishing.

The principles of the invention will be defined in the :claims and those principles will be illustrated by the description which hereinafter appears and the accompanying drawing, it being understood that a number of changes in form and structure in relation to the specific forms and structures described in detail herein may be made without departing from the generic aspects of the invention as defined in the claims.

In accordance with those generic aspects an adjustable support of the character described is provided which comprises two members, one of which has suitable bracket means adapting it to be secured in fixed position as, for example, to a baseboard, or upright joist, or ceiling rafter.

'That member will be referred to for means of identification as the fixed member. The other member is slidably adjustable in relation to the fixed member. It may, therefore, be tagged for purposes of identification as the sliding member and it too has bracket means which enable an article such as an outlet box to be secured on the sliding member. The sliding member may be slidable in relation to the fixed member not only longitudinally but also transversely thereof. Each of said members includes a pair of resilient strips which are normally displaceable transversely toward and away from each other and are maintained in spaced and substantially parallel relation as, for example, by means of the above mentioned bracket at one end thereof, which bracket enables the member to be joined to a fixed support in the case of the fixed member or to an outlet box or similar article in the case of the sliding member. One of said pair of strips is mounted within the other pair and the said pairs may therefore be identified as the inner pair and the outer pair, respectively. Adjustable means as, for example, a screw provided with a wedge block is provided to displace the inner pair against the outer pair and thereby lock said pairs in frictional engagement. Since the outer pair as well as the inner are, as above mentioned, normally displaceable transversely, means are provided and carried by the movable member to limit displacement of the outer pair of strips so that the inner pair can be locked or jammed against said outer pair.

The invention may be embodied in a number of diiferen-t forms or species. One species is esp cially adapted for supports intended to be secured to uprights, joists and the like or to horizontal baseboards. In this and other forms the members may be mutually adjustable both laterally and longitudinally to provide the widest possible scope or latitude of adjustability. In this form the strips of the fixed member may lie within those of the sliding member and the latter is mounted so that the strips thereof extend transversely of, i. e., at right angles to, the strips of the fixed member. A clamp is mounted on and carried by the movable member. It has parts guiding the movement of the sliding member relative to the fixed member and preferably also has parts engaging edge portions of the fixed member all of 7 said parts cooperating in facilitating movement of the sliding member relative to the fixed member. The clamp also carries means whereby the strips of the fixed and sliding members may be jammed or forced into readily releasable locking engagement with each other at any desired position of the sliding member laterally and/or longitudinally in relation to the fixed member. The said locking means may be advantageously embodied in a, threaded stud provided with a wedge nut having bevelled surfaces engaging edge portions of the fixed member and adapted by movement of the stud to jam the strips of the fixed and movable members together and against the retaining walls of the clamp.

In another form the fixed member is adapted to be secured to a ceiling rafter, for example, and the sliding member is mounted to slide vertically in relation to the fixed member. In that form the that the strips of the movablemeinber'may bereleasably jammed or locked ga'gement with'the strips or the fixed member j hy desired position of the sliding member longitudinally in'r'elation to the fixed member. The lockingaction may be effected by a wedge nut mounted-bn'a-threaded stud carried by the sliding member and threaded. on that stud at a point laterally aligned-with the iree endedges of the strips of the movable memfie-w "eic'ollar or la'm p sothat' the' en'd he s ti ips of the-infovable niember le ably jam'r'n'edagainsttlie insidesurespf'thest 'ps of th fixed'membenthelateral movement of Whieh is hr' iited by s'aid clamp.

VJ Wi Qh riding that the generic aspects er the inven on i to be defind by the fcla mayberiibddie n a' number of specific"lly difi rentstrubtures,;some of those species jwrllbe; describedfindetail -with-theassistance ofigo t V bevelled surfacesragn arva n H ges 3B,;4B 'of=,str;ip s*31and 4 and; in cooperation with shoulders 328 on $118 ginsertfi3;,ysupportestrips ,4 l in the slidingv movementaqf the slidingvlmember rawingis; *in'iwhich ve'vie'wofa supporthaving v g mber wh'ich is slidable longitudinally and laterally in relation toa" fiXedmeinber, i: :e.,

"Fig. 3 'isari expldcld'vleW showing thesliding member, clamp and threaded stud with-wedge nut, h fF-ig? apiabcioeotite viewi oil a i -support :intended"esfieoially as' ahapger frl5m .a,.,o'eiling,

Y Fig. 5' is -a partly sectional view: on lineI5-+'5 of s.* o ,"the member' I 'in- 1 3 'rid' ith stops-1*, the stripsheing enids" by a'"'bracket 5 having 'emberf lf to 'ahy desired "base ifofezia mplt orst base 2. Theimemfb lldfllg Shaping it'in the a a. or he sake ffolarity in descrip- 't'lon' -member l maybee'al d the iixed member "simply because in use it is-seCiIred in' fixed po S t-l w V ff'sliding; I

to": bemountedthereonjandffiiayf-have a hole l 6 oo ffeSpondifngm a 'oclif outfhole iriarr-outlet bpxftojpermitthefl ertion qfcablesor wires.

f 'TheT'clamp 2.!hetspara-llel ans 3; e m ate v ret ee r hi r e the member; I l ammed with ds'ldts and stops mber adapted td be s'eo'uredin' fixedfposition,i 3

"which may i haveby turned-in edges 24 of walls 32.

member ll relative to the member I. The strips l2, l3 of the sliding member may be positioned between the walls 32 of the retaining clamp 2| and the strips 3, 4 of the fixed member and are adapted to slide both longitudinally and laterally in-relation to 'the strips1 3,;=4.

The cla'r'np in cludes aninse'rti'member 33 hav ing tongues 21 received in grooves 24A formed The insert 33 grips the walls 32 at the grooves 24A and limitsdisplaeement of these walls 32 and also :Tlie insert isfurther maintained in position by lug's fifi struoklf upifrom the edges 24, said lugs belng reeeivd in"recesses 26 formed in the in- S'elt;

Theinsert-:Sihhasshoulder portions 28 in which are re 'ceived edge" portions 3A, 4A of the strips 3, 4 -(Fig. 2) which shoulder portions assist in supporting the strips 3,24 in the sliding movement ofetheslidingmember ll pn the fixed nember I.

andetherebwbeingspossiblylost ineuse. The; stud 1011511111516 fixed member and long i -tiidin ally-thereof. :To efiect this -movement,-the-,-studmust-betbacked -prevent=the stripsafi fi, 42 andgIB-to be locked the: clamp-2i lhi as r a il n b a lyin againstazeach othe r;and;lthe retaining walls 32. of

- a: screwrjdriver to p. yhe head-Aland;- unscrewing the"studiarsufiieient amount; out oi the threaded sockets-3,0; The.qslitlirig memberrmay them be moved slongitudinallyi or later-ally oreboth; longitudinally:andrlaterallys-on thee1"1 -xed rmflnben to 1; an extent Ilimit;e d.;only by thebracketdand-stops 1; i in a liongitu dinalw directipnaand" therrlength of --;the:slot- -23dn-ia-3latera n -1 membe ainsany imp v --screwedm ilthe vhole fi nr-iwhereupon the bevelledasuriacesmiliA 'ofrthe wedgeinut fiorcelzthetedges:13B;E;4Bi.0f;rthe strips- 3 ,s against: :thel t'strips: 12,5 H13? and 3 1 956 ain *ber l Lhas a:paimof strips lz l 3 uofcthe clampa, i

turn are forcedaagainst themetaining -wallsr82 and sthes isina memee rediglgether at Zone?endibmarmounting-braoket Ill hav ingsheles mbuntedi thereon and Ia nonntersunkholefiBAa-to l5 to'enable arioutleteb'ox orisimilal arti leiteqbe receive'rthe headifi moi-14a stud 58. {like-manner -the fixed memberziricludestistrips 3,;Meqnneeted by a bracket-I fitihaliihgeholes Site. fellableirtheevfi fid :mmber? toi be'seeured, for-example; to a ceiling -raf't'er or dtl'lerr eeiling'zmember. gl-lere agai -it apparent-amenbntmfixedifand siigmga enilbers may beeconomically;shaped-iron; single stripsof metal:oraothersuitablematerial.

-' iOn:the slidingimember H; and atgthe :end th'ere- ShbulderE BSLInDtBQFig; 37),; Z: hugssor -gunsets the collar and to permit a limited lateral motion of the strips. The spaces between the edges [2A, 13A of the strips and the edges 54 define slots through which pass the strips 3, 4 of the fixed member.

The stud 58 carries a wedge nut 38 having bevelled surfaces 38A which bear against ends 12A, [3A of the strips [2, l3. When, therefore, the stud 58 is screwed into the nut 38 the bevelled surfaces thereof force the ends I2A, I3A against opposing surfaces of the strips 3, 4, jam them against edges 54 of the collar and lock the parts against relative movement. By unscrewing the stud pressure of the wedge nut against the strips is relieved and the movable or sliding member may readily be given any desired longitudinal movement relative to the fixed member. It follows that the sliding member may be releasably locked in engagement with the fixed member at ay desired position of the sliding member longitudinally adjusted in relation to the fixed member.

The stud may be upset as at 62 to prevent separation of the stud and wedge nut.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable support ofthe character described comprising two members, one member having bracket means at one end thereof adapting said member to be secured in fixed position, said member being identified as the fixed member, the other member being slidably adjustable in relation to the fixed member and being identified as the sliding member and having bracket means adapted to secure an outlet box on said sliding member, each of said members comprising a pair of resilient strips joined at one end by said bracket means and normally displaceable transversely thereof, one of said pair of strips being mounted within the other, said pairs being identified as the inner pair and outer pair, adjustable means to displace the inner pair against the outer pair and lock said pairs in frictional engagement, and means carried by the movable member to limit displacement of the outer pair and thereby to permit said locking action.

2. An adjustable support of the character described comprising two members, one member having bracket means at one end thereof adapting said member to be secured in fixed position said member being identified as the fixed member, the other member being slidably adjustable in relation to the fixed member and being identified as the sliding member and having bracket means adapted to secure an outlet box on said sliding member, each of said members comprising a pair of resilient strips joined at one end by said bracket means and normally displaceable transversely thereof, one of said pair of strips being mounted within the other pair, said pairs being identified as the inner pair and outer pair, adjustable means carried by the movable member and comprising a screw and wedge nut operated thereby to force said inner pair into frictional locking engagement with the outer pair and means carried by the movable member to limit displacement of the outer pair and thereby to permit said locking action.

3. An adjustable support of the character described comprising two members, one member having bracket means at one end thereof adapting said member to be secured in fixed position, said member being identified as the fixed member, the other member being slidably adjustable in relation to the fixed member both longitudinally and transversely thereof and being identified as the sliding member and having bracket means adapted to secure an outlet box on said sliding member each of said members comprising a pair of resilient strips joined atone end by said bracket means and normally displaceable transversely thereof, one of said pair of strips being mounted within the other pair, said pairs being identified as the inner pair and outer pair, adjustable means to displace the inner pair against the outer pair and lock said pairs in frictional engagement, and means carried by the movable member to limit displacement of the outer pair and thereby to permit said locking action.

4. An adjustable support of the character described comprising two members, each member comprising a pair of spaced resilient strips having bracket means at one end thereof maintaining said strips in spaced substantially parallel relation, the bracket means of one member being adapted to be secured in fixed position and that member being identified as the fixed member, the bracket means of the other member being adapted to be secured to an outlet box and that member being identified as the sliding member, the sliding member being mounted to slide both longitudinally and transversely in relation to the fixed member, a clamp engaging the sliding member and having parts guiding the movement of the sliding member transversely of the fixed member and other parts engaging edge portions of the strips of the fixed member, said clamp carrying a threaded stud and a wedge block adapted by movement of the stud axially thereof to force the strips of the fixed and sliding members into readily releasable locking engagement with each other and with the clamp at any desired position of the sliding member laterally and longitudinally in relation to the fixed member.

5. An adjustable support of the character described comprising two members, each member comprising a pair of spaced resilient strips having bracket means at one end thereof maintaining said strips in spaced substantially parallel relation, the bracket means of one member being adapted to be secured in fixed position and that member being identified as the fixed member, the bracket means of the other member being adapted to be secured to an outlet box and being identified as the sliding member, the strips of the sliding member being arranged to slide within and in contact with the strips of the fixed member and longitudinally thereof, a collar mounted on the sliding member at the end thereof opposite the mounting bracket thereof, said collar having parts receiving the strips of the fixed member and guiding and retaining them in sliding engagement with corresponding strips of the sliding member, the mounting bracket of the sliding member carrying a threaded stud having a head mounted in said bracket and a wedge nut threaded on said stud at the end opposite the head thereof and aligned with said collar, the wedge nut and stud being adapted to force the strips of the fixed and sliding members into readily releasable locking engagement with each other and said collar at any desired position of the sliding member longitudinally in relation to the fixed member.

STEPHEN N. BUCHANAN. SAMUEL L. GIBSON. 

